‘He’s the $200 Million Man!’ – Shannon Sharpe Urges Lakers to Trade Austin Reaves Before It’s Too Late, Says He’s Chasing the Bag and Not Staying in L.A.!
In a fiery take that’s already stirring debate across NBA circles, sports personality and former NFL star Shannon Sharpe is calling for the Los Angeles Lakers to make a bold move: trade Austin Reaves before his market value skyrockets.
Speaking candidly on a recent episode of his podcast, Sharpe didn’t hold back when discussing the Lakers’ current roster dynamics. While Reaves has become a fan-favorite and proven himself as a reliable role player alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Sharpe believes the writing is on the wall—and it’s written in $200 million ink.
> “Austin Reaves is gonna go somewhere and get a big payday anyway,” Sharpe said. “You think he’s staying with the Lakers when someone’s throwing $200 million at him? Come on, man. L.A. can’t pay that. They shouldn’t pay that.”
Sharpe’s comments reflect a growing concern among Lakers fans and analysts alike: can the team afford to keep Reaves, and more importantly, should they? While Reaves has shown flashes of brilliance—especially in high-pressure moments—Sharpe argues that keeping him in hopes of building a championship core just isn’t realistic.
> “Let’s be real,” Sharpe continued. “Those three guys—LeBron, AD, and Reaves—they aren’t winning anything. Not like this. Not in the West. If you’re the Lakers, you have to be proactive. You can’t keep holding onto players hoping something clicks.”
Sharpe’s suggestion? Cash in on Reaves’ rising value before it’s too late. With teams around the league already showing interest in the versatile guard, the Lakers could explore trade packages that bring in more experienced contributors or high-value draft picks to better support LeBron in what could be his final title run.
This isn’t the first time Reaves’ future has been a hot topic. After a breakout postseason and a solid regular season performance, the 26-year-old guard has become one of the NBA’s most intriguing rising talents. But according to Sharpe, loyalty won’t outweigh the kind of money teams will soon throw his way.
> “At the end of the day, this is a business. Austin’s going to chase the bag. And he should. But the Lakers need to make a business move too—and that means trading him before they get nothing in return.”
As trade rumors heat up heading into the offseason, Sharpe’s bold declaration may not be too far off the mark. If Reaves is truly destined to become the “$200 million man,” the Lakers have some serious decisions to make—and fast.
